Utility Nav Menu

On Global Gartner Predictions 2013: Enterprise App Stores

There is a renaissance in having an "enterprise app store" and companies are ready for in-house apps as we head into 2013. However, a strategy needs to be in place in order to enjoy the fruits of a mobile apps program both for the user/employee and the IT department. While it is exciting for businesses to get their first app up and running, organizations need to think about scalability, reliability, security and ongoing maintenance.
The "enterprise app store" has become the focal point for larger forces behind the scenes: a full lifecycle management system for mobile apps. According to Gartner's predictions, by 2014 there will be more than 70 billion mobile application downloads from app stores every year. The explosion of apps has been driven by several factors, including the increased ease of creating mobile apps, better methods of securing and managing apps, and self-serve models that appeal to the "in house consumer."
It's easier than ever to create mobile apps. Options abound with HTML5 and JavaScript based tools that can run in the browser, or be converted to native apps. Businesses that may have sat on the sidelines due to the perceived complexity and cost of building a native iOS or Android app now have a wide variety of options. These include "drag and drop" systems, write-once-deploy-to-many and even traditional mobile enterprise application platform (MEAP) companies that are providing increased flexibility. On top of that, the native Xcode and Android development kits - which ultimately still deliver the highest quality apps - are significantly improved from the Version 1.0 days. The availability of development frameworks, mobile back end services, and easy and inexpensive access to cloud services have reduced the time to create an app from months to weeks or days.
To read the full article, check it out on IDG Connect here.